Mayurbhanj district collector Rajesh Prabhakar Patil received the award from Union Rural Development Minister Choudhury Virendra Singh at a function held at Vigyan Bhawan here on Monday.

“This programme is definitely benefiting poor people. The programme can be a boon to the poor people if all of us look for ways to further strengthen it. I shall work for its more successful implantation so that it turns out to be vardaan for the poor,” said Patil after receiving the award.

Sarpanch of Pandupani panchayat under Tiring block of Mayurbhanj district Sandu Jarika was awarded at the function for successful implementation of MNREGS in his panchayat.

“I had never thought that the government will select me for this award. We all brothers and sisters who are sarpanches should see to it that MNREGS is successfully implemented in their panchayats,” said a beaming Jarika after receiving the award.